Lasagna

I love Italian food. I love the way ingredients get enhanced in the dish. Full of flavour and aroma, this cuisine had my tongue at the first bite... ooo i feel like eating some lasagna now. There are a gazillion ways of making lasagna, this way is certainly low fat, high fiber, high on taste and vegetarian too. If you want, you can make it vegan by using vegan cheese, as simple as that.

Prep time: 30 minutes

cook time: 45 minutes

servings: upto 5

Ingredients:

1. Lasagna noodles - 6 (whole wheat/ multigrain/ whole grain pasta)

2. Plum tomatoes - 3 to 4 chopped

3. Tomato paste - 2 6oz cans

4. Onion - 1 medium, finely chopped

5. Garlic - 3 to 4 pods, grated or minced (approx 1 tbsp)

6. Basil dry - 2 to 3 tsp (use fresh if on hand, you will need more about 2 tbsp)

7. Black Olive slices - 2 to 3 tbsp, drained.

8. Green olive slices - 2 to 3 tbsp, drained.

9. Sundried tomatoes in oil - 5 to 6 finely chopped

10. Cayenne/chilli flakes - to taste

11. Ground black pepper - 1/4 tsp or more if you want.

12. Parsley dry - 3 tsp (use fresh if on hand, you will need more about 2 tbsp)

13. Parmesan cheese (skim)- 1/4 cup grated

14. Skim Mozzarella cheese - 1/2 cup grated

15. Skim Feta Cheese - 1/4 cup (optional)

16. Olive oil - 2 tbsp

17. Salt to taste.

16. Water as required to boil pasta and for sauce.

 Method:

1. Boil sufficient water to cook pasta noodles by adding adequate amount of salt and oil. Cook the noodles according to instructions on the box.

2. Heat oil in a pot on medium heat, add dry basil and parsley with garlic and saute for a few seconds.If using fresh, add them once the sauce is well done and stir them in well.

3. Add onions, a pinch of salt and saute till it turns slightly golden brown. close the lid on pot for faster cooking.

4. Add sundried tomatoes and olives and saute for a minute or two and add chilli/cayenne and black pepper at this point and stir it in well.

5. Add tomatoes, stir, close the lid on the pot and let it sweat well.

6. add the tomato paste and mix it well with the ingredients in the pot. 

7. add water little by little, till it gets saucy and let it boil for a few minutes, about 5 to 7 minutes till it gets slightly thick. the right consistency would be of the ketchup. 

8. In a oven safe tray layer the sauce first, drizzle feta cheese and layer noodles on top. Next layer some more sauce and drizzle Parmesan cheese, place the noodles on top and layer the remaining sauce and sprinkle all the mozzarella cheese evenly. Cover the tray with foil.

9. Preheat oven on 350F for 10 minutes, place the try in and let it cook for 15 minutes. Take out the tray and pull the foil off then again place it in the oven for 5 to 7 minutes so that the top gets slightly golden brown.

10. pull it out and cut same size pieces and dig in... enjoy your lasagna.

Tips:

1. You can reduce oil and amount of cheese if you want.

2. Use very little salt, just 1/2 tsp goes very far in the sauce.... salt is to enhance the flavours of the ingredients, not to mask them.

3. Use some oil from sundried tomatoes to make the sauce, it makes it so much better.